James Arthur "Jim" Runneberg - age 67, of Laurens, passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at his home on the family farm near Laurens.
Jim was born on March 20, 1952 in Emmetsburg, Iowa. He was the son of Melvin and Dorothy (Lathrop) Runneberg. Sisters Mary and Jan and brother Dave later joined the family. They made their home in rural Laurens.
Jim graduated from Laurens High School in 1970. He attended Iowa State University, where he majored in agriculture, completing a bachelor's degree and also working toward a master's degree. Following graduation from ISU, Jim went to work in farming, his life-long career. In addition to farming, Jim operated a seed dealership and worked as a bicycle mechanic, both at home and at the Okoboji Expedition Company.
Jim married Debra Phillips in 1973, and they made their home in Laurens. To this union, Jennifer was born in 1980 and Anne in 1982. Jim's girls were his greatest joy in life, and he was a very dedicated dad.
In 2004, Jim married Mary Sernett, and Sarah, Mandi and Will came into his life. Jim and Mary lived in Laurens for four years, then moved to the family farm north of town.
Jim was passionate about many things, and he became an expert on each of them through research, connecting with other enthusiasts, and hands-on experience. He loved sharing his knowledge with others. His passions included: railroads and collecting railroad memorabilia; attending rock concerts; playing CD's and concert DVD's at home and learning about musicians and bands; gun collecting; collecting antiques and Laurens postcards and memorabilia; woodworking; playing snooker on his grandpa Runneberg's antique snooker table; gardening; making pasta sauce, salsa, his secret recipe cookies and his famous bread pudding; crop tours; bicycling; running, including six marathons; traveling, highlights of which were a fishing trip to Alaska, Amtrak trips to Glacier National Park, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, and a very special family vacation to Key West, Florida. He had a soft spot for animals, and was especially fond of his golden retriever, Buddy, and his cat, Buckwheat.
Jim was an active member of Grace Lodge 519. He served on the Laurens City Council, Bethany Lutheran Church Council and the Swan Lake Board of Trustees.
Jim genuinely loved people and was very good at visiting. He had a wonderful sense of humor and was a great story teller. He shared many a laugh with those whose company he enjoyed often, and with new acquaintances. He cherished his family - including his bonus family - and his many friends. He was a very generous person and would do anything for his family and friends. His happy place was in his wood shop, making furniture, bowls and other creations, either custom ordered or to give as gifts. He enjoyed a challenge, never wanting to start a project until he knew how to proceed and was sure he could finish it. He did not like unfinished projects. A favorite saying was, "I'll have to think about that for a while."
Left to cherish their memories of Jim are his wife Mary; daughters, Jennifer (Brandon) Cain of Oak Park, IL; Anne (Ryan) Jerred of Iowa City, IA; grandchildren, James and Lily Cain; stepchildren, Sarah (Brian) Hager of Weaver, MN; Mandi (Scott) Ronnei of Waukee, IA; Will (Emilie) Pohlman of Windsor Heights, IA; step-grandchildren, Madyson and Ellen Main, Owen and Henry Ronnei, and Blythe and Cash Pohlman; mother, Dorothy Runneberg of Laurens; sisters Mary (Steve) Korrect of Bettendorf, IA and Jan (Dana) Ragaller of Rockford, IL; brother Dave (Cheryl) Runneberg of Roanoke, TX; sisters-in-law Sue Johnson of Albuquerque, NM, Kathy (Mike) Keane of Dubuque, IA, Pat Sernett of Selah, WA and Barb (Dan) Edmonds of Sioux Falls, SD, and brother-in-law Joe (Amy) Sernett of Omaha, NE; aunts and uncles, Lloyd Washburn, Vivian Lofgren, Marilyn Riopelle and Bob and Nancy Lathrop; many other extended family members; his bonus family, and many cherished friends. Preceding Jim in death are his father, Melvin Runneberg; grandparents, Arnold and Kathryn Runneberg and Byron and Anne Lathrop; Mary's parents, Alice and Gene Sernett; aunts and uncles, LaVon and Wesley Hagedorn, Marilyn Washburn, Harold Lofgren, Ruth and Richard Anderson, Alice and Joe Grawe and Jim Riopelle, and three cousins.